Carl Bjorn Thordahl 1931-2025

Born in Canada of Danish immigrants Niels and Johanne (Bjorn) Thordahl.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Jean, his daughters Cheryl (Kevin) Grasley and Carleen (John) Schmittendorf; his grandchildren Michael (Ann) Grasley, Danielle (Adam) Welz, Heather Grasley, Mark Grasley, and Avery Klauk; great-grandchildren Lindsey, Ryan, Lily and Lauren Grasley; and Alyson and Carson Welz.  He is also survived by his siblings Joan Foster, Eugene (Faith) Thordahl, Jim (Bonnie) Thordahl and Edna (Ray) Smith; also by many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his brothers Bill (Elaine) Thordahl, Lorne (Alice) Thordahl and sister Ann Easton.

Growing up during the Great Depression as the eldest of eight children he learned both frugality and generosity.  He met the love of his life, Anna Jean Steff at a dance function at the Lawtons Grange Hall. After joining the US Army an unlikely accident left him blind in his right eye.  Unless he told you about it, you’d never know, because he never complained nor allowed it to limit him.  Carl and Jean married in September 1952 and while expecting their first child, were deeded a small corner of the family farm where they built and lived in the basement and later completed the main floor of the family home.  They opened an Atlantic Service station and garage on Gowanda State Road in North Collins where Carl worked at all hours and on call for many years to plow driveways, tow disabled vehicles, and respond to traffic accidents. He practiced his frugality for both the business and his family to succeed.  Those early years of married life brought many leisurely Sunday drives to friends’ homes to play pinochle or to family get togethers.

In 1972, Carl and Jean sold their businesses in North Collins and Gowanda to resettle in Pompano Beach, FL.  There they owned/operated a small rental property close to the beach.  Guests enjoyed Carl’s and Jean’s enormous hospitality season after season.  After selling the rental property they bought a condo at Cypress Park where they made friends and enjoyed South Florida living. Many friends and family visited Carl and Jean at their condo, everyone was welcome no matter how crowded!

Carl will always be known for is his fun-loving nature and his entertaining story telling.  He proudly became a naturalized US citizen and in 1969 travelled to Denmark with the family where he made lasting connections with his Danish family.  He was a family leader.  Carl and Jean travelled to Denmark at least twenty times over the years.  This greatly set the foundation for future Danish-American Bjorn-Thordahl family reunions.  They also enjoyed over sixty cruises all over the world.  To celebrate their fiftieth anniversary, they treated the whole family to a Caribbean cruise.

In 2003, Carl and Jean surprised everyone and moved back to New York to live the rest of their days near family and friends.  They enjoyed lunches and dinners and card games at home and also at several local community centers.  Carl was a brilliant card player throughout his life until he slowly slipped into dementia.  And even then, he stayed pretty sharp until much further on.  Carl and Jean played partners at Monday’s weekly duplicate bridge game at the Greece Community Center.  The people and time spent together there built some great friendships enduring to this day.

As we remember the Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, and Friend we’ve had the privilege to know and enjoy, we remember his example of loyalty, goodness, authenticity, humor, and generosity.

The family would like to thank all the Omega team of Doctors at Unity Hospital, the 2100 wing of Nurses, Pharmacists, Patient Care Technicians, and the Hospice Team for their professionalism, kindness, patience and compassion.  You stood with us and helped to ease our collective pain. Thank you for all your support…You are each and all ROCK STARS!

Carl’s visitation will be held on Thurs, May 8, from 3-6 pm at Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, 1411 Vintage Lane, 14626. His funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday, May 9 at 10:30 am.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Unity Hospital/Rochester Regional Health Hospice Care, 330 Monroe Avenue, Suite 400, Rochester, NY 14607, or https://www.rochesterregional.org/giving/ways-to-support